Question: We'd love to get away for a fun weekend, but don't want
to dip into savings. Can you give me some ideas for a low-cost, weekend getaway?
There are many ways to escape for the weekend without breaking
the bank. You don't have to take an expensive ski trip or visit a tropical
island paradise to receive the intended benefits-namely getting away for some
rest and relaxation so you can return revitalized and ready to face winter
again. Here are some tips and creative ideas for planning an inexpensive trip
that won't leave you in the red:
Stay close to home
Sometimes all you need is a slight change of scenery or break from
the routine to feel refreshed and revitalized. Is there a cute bed and
breakfast the next town over that you've been meaning to try? A nearby local
attraction? If you'll be driving instead of flying, you'll have more money in
your budget for lodging and dinner. If you can, reserve a room with a fireplace
or spa, since there's little that beats staring into a crackling fire with a
glass of wine or relaxing in a bubbling hot tub. Find a bed and breakfast
offering specials near you at bnbfinder.com.
Avoid popular destinations
Save yourself some time: Don't even bother thinking about Maui or
Cancun. Winter is also peak season for ski destinations such as Aspen, Park
City and Jackson Hole. If you want to hit the slopes or bask on sun-drenched
beaches at the most popular resorts this time of year, you'll be paying top
dollar. If your goal is a ski getaway, why not try out a resort that's close to
home? Or if your heart is set on a tropical beach, try out one of the up-and-coming
areas where prices are still low. Chances are, you'll have just as much
fun. In addition to saving money, you'll escape the crowds.
Visit a national park
National parks
are one of America's most treasured resources. Together, the U.S.'s 400
national parks draw 275 million visitors per year. Summer is peak season in
most of them. A visit during winter would let you enjoy nature without crowds
of tourists. If you've already been to the national parks in your area, try
taking a road trip to one in the next state over. There's a reason these areas
have been preserved-they contain some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in the
country. Many parks don't charge admission, and those that do will usually
offer three-day passes. You can often find interesting accommodations within
the park boundaries, but better deals can usually be found at motels in
surrounding towns.
Do your Internet research
The Internet is definitely your best friend for finding the best
travel deals. Make it a point to bookmark budget travel pages and sign up for
their email alerts. Receiving alerts on great deals can fill up your in-box,
but you can always set up a special folder for travel planning. Alerts can save
you hours of online research, and if you're lucky, one will pop into your inbox
at exactly the right time. Many travel websites, including
Budget Travel, the
Travel Channel and
Kiplinger, have put together lists of the best sites for finding good
travel deals. There are new websites popping up all the time to help find the
best deals on airfare,car rentals,hotels,bus and train
travel and even all-inclusive
packages. It's just a matter of deciding which ones are your favorites.
Use your air miles
If you've been saving up frequent-flier miles through an airline
rewards program, now might be the time to use them. Often, these programs have
expiration dates, so if you don't use them, you may lose them. And with airfare
for your getaway taken care of, that only leaves food and lodging to worry
about.
Take advantage of coupons
Tons of amazing travel deals can be found through online coupon
sites such as Groupon, LivingSocial and Travelzoo. And besides saving you
money, they can take you on an adventure. Many merchants who are offering deals
through these sites are just getting established or are up-and-coming. They may
not have a premier location or a big advertising budget, but since they're
seeking new business, they'll most certainly appreciate it when you show up.
Signing up for multiple online-coupon sites can easily overwhelm your email
inbox. Luckily, there are now several aggregators, including DailyDibs, that can
compile deals from online coupon sites and send you a daily report.
Use Airbnb
Although the hotel industry is not a fan of Airbnb, travelers
certainly are. Not only can you save substantially on lodging, but you can stay
in a place with all the comforts of home, including kitchens where you can save
even more by cooking your own meals. The site offers 1.5 million listings in
34,000 cities and 190 countries, so it's likely there are available
accommodations in the vacation destination you've chosen. Reviews of hosts
provide a measure of security. Choose wisely however: Airbnb properties range
from rooms in someone's home to short-term luxurious vacation rentals. The
plus: most are in desirable neighborhoods and contain all the comforts of home.
Take couch surfing to a new level
You can't get much cheaper than free! Operating on the same
principles as Airbnb,
couchsurfing.com lets you send out queries to people who might be
interested in hosting you in their home for free. Popular among Millennials
looking to travel and meet new friends, couchsurfing lets you experience a
locale on a local level. Often your hosts will not only put you up for the
night and feed you in the morning, but also take you sightseeing and introduce
you to their friends. The idea is that if you're part of this network, you'll
reciprocate by hosting travelers in your home sometime, too.
Try house-swapping
Know some friends in another city who may want to escape for a
little while, too? Arrange for a house swap. With accommodations taken care of,
all you'll need to worry about is the cost of travel. If you're flying, you
should be able to find a good deal by using one of the plentiful cheap airfare
finders. If you don't have friends interested in switching abodes, you can look
for places on sites such as HomeExchange.com
and LoveHomeSwap.
Whatever you do, make it a fun vacation. Set a budget and reward
yourself for sticking to it by planning your next getaway when you get back!
No comments:
Post a Comment